With great sadness, We received the news about the tragedy of Fr. Frans van der Lugt. Fr. Frans was an ambassador of fraternal love to all the components of the Syrian society. The killer of such a personality is in the same time a killer of the spirit of peace, harmony and brotherhood, which always prevailed in our lands.

Through these lines, we send to His Holiness Pope Francis and to the whole Catholic World our deepest condolences.

May God grant him the eternal rest and enable us to see peace prevailing wherever and whenever.

With love in Christ

Damascus, 9 April 2014.

JOHN X

Patriarch of Antioch and all the East

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